Page 252 - 2019-20 NJCAA Handbook - May, 2020

Student-Athlete R graduates from high school in January and enters Community College A shortly thereafter, which is at
the beginning of the spring semester, participating in basketball. Student-Athlete R passes 12 credit hours with a 2.00 GPA
during the spring semester. What are the requirements for Student-Athlete R prior to a second season of participation?
ANSWER:
Student-Athlete R may participate during the subsequent fall semester at Community College A even though he/she may
not have satisfied Article V, Section 2.D.3 from one full-time term. Because his/her eligibility cannot be submitted online, a
request for an exception must be emailed to the National Office along with transcripts and documentation for the exception. At
the completion of the fall semester Student-Athlete R must meet the academic requirements of Article V, Section 2.D.3.
NOTE: If the student-athlete did not earn 12 hours with a 1.75 GPA from his/her first term of attendance and participation,
which in this case is the spring term, he/she would not be eligible for the following fall term.

Case 3
GED Recipient after Season Begins
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R does not graduate with his/her high school graduating class and does not complete his/her high school
requirements prior to the beginning of the fall term. Instead, Student-Athlete R takes and passes the GED in November. Can
Student-Athlete R enroll at Community College A for the spring semester and participate in basketball which opened its season
during the fall semester and when can Student-Athlete R begin participating on the team?
ANSWER:
If Student-Athlete R satisfies the entry requirements at Community College A, he/she can participate as a member of the
basketball team which began its season during the fall semester. Student-Athlete R can participate in a scheduled contest any
time after the completion of the preceding term and must be enrolled full-time by the 18 calendar day of the spring term (not to
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end on a weekend of Federal Holiday). Student-Athlete R must be submitted in the online eligibility system before participating.
Case 4
NJCAA College that Drops a Sport
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R initially enrolls at Community College A with the anticipation of participating on their basketball team. Six
weeks after the beginning of the school year, Community College A permanently drops their basketball program. Immediately
upon notification of the status of the basketball program, Student-Athlete R drops out of college. At the beginning of the
following term, Student-Athlete R enrolls at Community College B which has a basketball program that began its season during
the fall term. Is Student-Athlete R eligible to participate in basketball upon enrollment at Community College B?
ANSWER:
No. The fact that Student-Athlete R did not finish the term at Community College A eliminates any possibility that he/she
will be eligible at Community College B. If Student-Athlete R had finished the term at Community College A and satisfied the
academic requirements, he/she could have joined the team at Community College B beginning any time after the completion of
the fall term.

Withdrawal (Section 2.C.4)

Case 1
Maintaining Twelve Credits of Enrollment
SITUATION:
Student-Athlete R initially enrolls in 12 credit hours at the beginning of the term. Three weeks into that term, Student-
Athlete R drops a three (3) credit hour course which leaves him/her with nine (9) credit hours. Can Student-Athlete R continue
to participate in athletics until the end of the term?
ANSWER:
Student-Athlete R becomes ineligible 48 hours from the time which they drop below 12 credit hours and must withdraw from
any further athletic competitions. It is the responsibility of each college to ensure that all student-athletes participating in
athletics maintain enrollment in 12 or more credit hours. When a member of the college’s athletic staff is aware of the
student’s non-full-time status, it is the member college’s responsibility to withhold the student from participation in official
games/contests even if it is within the allowable 48 hours.
NOTE: If the student-athlete adds a class to regain full-time status, they would regain their eligibility upon full-time enrollment.
Student-Athlete R is able to regain their eligibility if they re-enroll in 12 or more credits, in which nine (9) of those credits begin prior
to the end of the regular season, since they had established their status as a full-time student on the 18 calendar day of the term
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prior to dropping below full-time enrollment.

Case 2
Withdraw from Full-Time to Part-Time Status
SITUATION:
Is the eligibility status of a student-athlete affected if he/she is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and then withdraws below
12 credit hours during the term?
ANSWER:
Yes. Student-athletes involved in the intercollegiate athletic program at a community college must withdraw from all athletic
competitions immediately and will become ineligible 48 hours from changing their status from that of full-time to part-time. The
student-athlete may become eligible if he/she adds/enrolls in enough hours to regain full-time status; however, he/she is
ineligible to participate during the time when he/she was part-time.

Case 3
Student-Athletes Who are Dropped to Part-Time Status for Lack of Attendance
SITUATION: